BOSTON — On the surface, Dennis Seidenberg had a successful comeback last year from the ACL/MCL surgery that ended his 2013-14 season before the new year. The defenseman played the full 82-game schedule in 2014-15, averaging 22:06 of ice time.
But it was not a great season for Seidenberg. After missing more than half of the previous season, Seidenberg never quite seemed himself. For the first time since coming to the Bruins in 2010, he finished in the red at minus-1.
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WHO: San Jose Sharks at Boston Bruins
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday
TV: NESN
With that in mind it stood to reason that, without the benefit of a training camp or any preseason games, Seidenberg would have his struggles early in his return from the back surgery he underwent on Sept. 24.
Well, it has been only two games since his return to the lineup, and assistant coach Doug Houda has been minding Seidenberg’s minutes and situations. But the appropriate reaction to Seidenberg’s first couple of games should be: So far, so good.
In his first game back last Thursday against Colorado, he played 15:34 and was even blocking a couple of shots and delivering a game-high six hits in the loss to the Avalanche. He was given a little more rope in Saturday’s win against the Detroit Red Wings, seeing 19:05 and finishing plus-1 with three hits and two blocks. He was tagged with a tripping penalty in the second period and he survived a giveaway, but he was otherwise solid.
The 34-year-old was at a loss to explain why he’s off to a better start this year in his return from injury than last year, but he took a stab at it.
“I had some chance to watch some hockey games,” Seidenberg said with a smile and shrug. “I don’t know if that’s the reason. I have no idea what it is. But hockey is all about being mentally sharp I guess and I don’t know, maybe watching games every couple of days, watching the team and the routes and positioning, maybe it helped.”
While he’s expressed no concern about his back, he said he still has some strength to regain in his leg that was weakened by the herniated disc.
“It’s getting better, but definitely not 100 percent,” Seidenberg said. “But that’s why you have to be smart out there, play solid hockey and know what you can do and what you can’t.”
While he’s not up to full speed, he hasn’t been shy about throwing his weight around, as demonstrated by his nine hits in two games. Seidenberg brings back a certain thump factor to the Bruins’ defense.
“With the battles, there’s no problem at all,” he said. “I felt great and you can’t shy away. If you do shy away, you get hurt. My back feels great and there’s nothing to worry about that with.”
While Seidenberg had been the target of some slings and arrows – not to mention unfounded trade rumors –during his trying season last year, the return of his stoic demeanor has been welcome on the bench and on the ice.
“He definitely brings that stability back there,” center Patrice Bergeron said.
“With the experience that he has, I think he calms everything and everyone down back there and he’s been great.”
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